Redundant power beneath circuit board

Abstract

One embodiment includes an electronic assembly having a first printed circuit board (PCB) and a second PCB. The second PCB has at least two processors and is coupled to and disposed on a first side of the first PCB. A thermal dissipation device dissipates heat away from the processors. First and second power modules are coupled to and disposed on a second side of the first PCB, the first and second power modules providing redundant power to the two processors on the second PCB.

1. An electronic assembly, comprising:
 a first printed circuit board (PCB); 
 a second PCB having at least two processors, the second PCB being coupled to and disposed on a first side of the first PCB; 
 a thermal dissipation device for dissipating heat away from the processors; and 
 first and second power modules coupled to and disposed on a second side of the first PCB, the first and second power modules providing redundant power to the two processors on the second PCB, wherein the first and second power modules are separated and supply redundant power such that upon failure of the first power module, the second power module provides power for both power modules to the two processors, and each of the first and second power modules connects to the second side of the first PCB in a vertically stacked configuration. 
 
   
   
     2. The electronic assembly of  claim 1  wherein the first and second power modules each include a separate thermal dissipation device. 
   
   
     3. The electronic assembly of  claim 1  wherein both the first and second power modules are removable from the second side of the first PCB without disconnecting the first PCB from the second PCB. 
   
   
     4. The electronic assembly of  claim 1  wherein power transfers from the first and second power modules, through a first level 2 connect, through the first PCB, and to a second level 2 connect connected to at least one of the two processors. 
   
   
     5. The electronic assembly of  claim 1  wherein:
 the first power module includes power conversion components and a first thermal dissipation device for dissipating heat from the first power module; 
 the second power module includes power conversion components and a second thermal dissipation device for dissipating heat from the second power module. 
 
   
   
     6. The electronic assembly of  claim 1  wherein the first and second power modules are cooled with an airflow generated from the thermal dissipation device. 
   
   
     7. The electronic assembly of  claim 1  wherein the first power module is directly beneath one processor and the second power module is directly beneath another processor. 
   
   
     8. An electronic assembly, comprising:
 a first printed circuit board (PCB); 
 a second PCB including plural processors and being connected to a first side of the first PCB; 
 a thermal dissipation device that dissipates heat away from the plural processors; and 
 first and second power modules connected to and disposed on a second, bottom side of the first PCB in a vertically stacked configuration, the first and second power modules are separated and provide redundant power to the plural processors such that the second power module provides power for the plural processors upon failure of the first power module. 
 
   
   
     9. The electronic assembly of  claim 8 , wherein after failure of the first power module, the first power module is disconnected and removed from the first PCB while the electronic assembly continues to run without interruption. 
   
   
     10. The electronic assembly of  claim 8 , wherein after failure of the first power module, the first power module is disconnected and removed from the first PCB without removing the second power module, the second PCB, and the thermal dissipation device. 
   
   
     11. The electronic assembly of  claim 8 , wherein both the first and second power modules are removable from the second, bottom side of the first PCB without removing the thermal dissipation device from the plural processors. 
   
   
     12. The electronic assembly of  claim 8 , wherein both the first and second power modules are removable from the second, bottom side of the first PCB without disconnecting the first PCB from the second PCB.